WELCOME TO THE

DuPage Birding Club

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ABOUT US

A Brief Overview of the DBC

Founded in 1985, the DuPage Birding Club is nationally known as one of the largest and most active birding groups in Illinois. Our mission is to promote birding among our 400+ members
and the general public through field experiences and education that focus on the various habitats in DuPage County, the greater Chicago area, and other regional hotspots.  We welcome birders of all skill levels and interest.

ABOVE: Phothonotary Warbler. Photo by Diann Bilderback.

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THE DUPAGE BIRDING CLUB IS

Promoting birding in DuPage County and the greater Chicagoland area.

Join us in making birding an experience!

Winter/Spring 2026 Photo Contest Winners(opens in new tab)

 

MEETINGS

Learn from guest speakers and members at our meetings.

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FIELD TRIPS

Join us on one of our 100 plus field trips each year.

Upcoming Trips

BIRDING DUPAGE

Explore DuPage County birding hotspots and resources.

Explore Hotspots

DBC on YouTube

Mini-Tutorials

Identify your warblers, cuckoos, thrushes, owls, blackbirds, ducks, and more.
View ID Tutorials

Birding Basics

Learn about bird identification basics, binoculars, migration, and more.
Learn About Birds

Birding by Ear

Hone listening skills for thrushes, flycatchers, grassland birds, and more.
Learn Songs and Calls

Upcoming Meeting

October 8, 7:00pm - In Person and via Zoom

Topic: From Calumet to Lincoln Park and Beyond: The Black-crowned Night Herons of Chicago

Presenter: Amy Lardner, Founder, The Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project

Location: College of DuPage and Zoom

In 1992, more than 1,600 Black-crowned Night Herons were counted in Chicago’s Calumet region, alongside other breeding sites across Illinois. Today, the species is Illinois-endangered, with declining populations and breeding colonies across the Great Lakes and Northeast. Lincoln Park Zoo is now home to Illinois’ largest remaining breeding colony.

Amy Lardner, founder of the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project, will explore the history and future of Chicago’s herons, including research on tracking, migration and conspecific attraction, creative collaborations producing life-size 3D decoys, and the project’s 20-volunteer Heron Ambassador program at the rookery and elsewhere. She’ll share how outreach and education can build awareness and support for research and long-term conservation.

In 2027, the Zoo colony enters its 20th nesting season, while Illinois marks 50 years of listing the species as endangered.

To register via Zoom, use this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WtatvI6kSZSiXJDgk3o7yg(opens in new tab)

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Upcoming Field Trips

Registration May Be Required

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Announcing DBC’s Winter/Spring ‘26 Photo Contest Winners!

August 4, 2026
The winners of DBC's Winter/Spring '26 photo contest have been finalized, and the winners have stunning photos and even more interesting stories around their photo captures. Check out their photos and past winning entries for ...
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Recent News

DBC to Sponsor Danada Fall Festival: Volunteers Wanted!

September 1, 2026
DBC will host a table at the Danada Fall Festival, which will be held October 11, 11 am-5pm, at the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton. If you have a couple of free hours to join us at our table and talk with people, we’d love your help. This annual festival attracts up to 10,000 visitors so it promises to be a busy day! The festival includes equestrian shows with riders in costume, horse drawn hayrides, an art show of approximately 200 art and photo exhibits, activities for the children, and food and entertainment. If you’d like to volunteer, contact mwarner2543@gmail.com.
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Wingspan Game Day Goes Quarterly!

September 1, 2026
Our first two Wingspan board game days have been so successful that we’ve decided to make a regular quarterly schedule! Enjoy an afternoon playing games with your DBC friends. Wingspan is a beautifully crafted game, where each player has several wildlife habitats in which to attract a variety of birds with unique characteristics and abilities. Players collect food, lay eggs, and draw birds from cards with stunning illustrations and interesting facts. It blends education with strategy, in an enjoyable atmosphere. You do not need to know how to play. We will teach you. If you know how to play, you […]
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DBC Book Club Next Read – The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

July 31, 2026
Now let’s get ready for a fascinating true-crime story as you journey into the underworld of plume peddlers and fanatical hobbyists obsessed with the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying as we read The Feather Thief  by Kirk Wallace Johnson. In 2009, a young American musician named Edwin Rist stole hundreds of rare bird skins from the British Museum of Natural History, many painstakingly collected 150 years earlier by a contemporary of Charles Darwin. The gorgeous feathers these rare birds sported were worth large sums of money to the men who shared Edwin’s obsession: the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying. Years […]
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2026 Spring Bird Count Results

July 5, 2026
Joe Suchecki – DuPage County Compiler The annual Spring Bird Count was conducted on Saturday May 9, 2026, when over 100 DuPage birders spread out across the county to participate in this statewide event. The weather during the count was just about perfect with mild temperatures and fair skies. With good conditions, our very skilled DuPage birders were expecting a good count for the day. In all, birders tallied 180 species and over 25,000 birds for the count. The 180 species was slightly above the average number of species seen over the last 20 years and tied the results from […]
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SAVE THE DATE: Birding and Breakfast, August 22nd

July 1, 2026
Please join us for a bird walk and casual breakfast at the West Shelter at Blackwell Forest Preserve, Saturday, August 22nd. All birders and potential birders are welcome! This is a great time to get together and relive highlights of your summer birding experiences with others who share your interest in birding and the outdoors.  The bird walk starts at 7:00 a.m. at the West Shelter located on the left side of the Main Drive south of the Mount Hoy Parking lot. Breakfast will follow at 9:00 a.m. and will consist of fresh fruit, bagels, donuts, juice, coffee, and more. […]
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